PSalms 110-118 Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.) http://infoglobal.altervista.org/blog/ Ps 110:4 What is the oath referred to in this verse? (w14 10/15 11 _15-17; w06 9/1 14 _1) *** w14 10/15 p. 11 pars. 15-17 Have Unshakable Faith in the Kingdom *** 15 While the Abrahamic covenant and the Davidic covenant make it certain that the offspring of the woman would have a kingly function, that role alone would not suffice to bring blessings to people of all nations. For them to be truly blessed, they would have to be freed from their sinful state and brought into Jehovah s universal family. To accomplish this requires that the offspring also serve in a priestly capacity. The wise Creator provided for this by means of another legal arrangement, the covenant for a priest like Melchizedek. 16 Jehovah revealed through King David that He would make a personal covenant with Jesus with a twofold objective: to have him sit at [God s] right hand until he subdues his enemies and to be a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek. (Read Psalm 110:1, 2, 4.) Why in the manner of Melchizedek? Because long before any descendants of Abraham inherited the Promised Land, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, served as priest of the Most High God. (Heb. 7:1-3) He was directly appointed by Jehovah to do so. He is the only one mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures who served as both a king and a priest. Moreover, since he was without a recorded predecessor or successor, he can be called a priest for all time, or forever. 17 Jesus is directly appointed to be a priest by means of this personal covenant that Jehovah made with him, and he will remain a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek. (Heb. 5:4-6) This clearly shows that Jehovah has legally bound himself to use the Messianic Kingdom to accomplish his original purpose concerning humans on earth. *** w06 9/1 p. 14 par. 1 Highlights From Book Five of Psalms *** 110:4 To what has Jehovah sworn without feeling regret? This oath is the covenant that Jehovah made with Jesus Christ to serve as King and High Priest. Luke 22:29. Ps 116:15 During a funeral talk, why should this verse not be applied to the deceased? (w12 5/15 22 _2) When delivering a memorial talk for a Christian, it is not fitting to apply Psalm 116:15 to the deceased person, even though he died as a loyal servant of Jehovah. Why? Because the psalmist s statement has a broader significance. It means that God counts the death of the entire group of his loyal ones too costly for him to let it take place. See Psalm 72:14; 116:8.
What does this week s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah? *** w15 9/15 p. 19 par. 6 In What Ways Does Jehovah Love Us? *** 6 Consider the earth, which Jehovah, the Maker, has given to the sons of men. (Ps. 115:15, 16) Scientists have spent vast amounts of money on space explorations to find other earthlike planets. Although hundreds of planets have been identified, scientists are disappointed that not one of those planets has the intricate balance of conditions that makes human life possible, as the earth does. The earth appears to be unique among all of God s creation. Just imagine, out of the unknown number of planets that exist in the Milky Way and beyond, Jehovah created the earth to be not merely a habitable place but a comfortable, beautiful, and safe home for his human creation! (Isa. 45:18) This reflects how Jehovah must love us. Read Job 38:4, 7; Psalm 8:3-5. *** w14 12/15 p. 31 par. 21 Do You Appreciate What You Have Received? *** 21 What a great privilege it is to have received so much from God! We have accurate knowledge of his Word and a clear understanding of the truth about him and his purposes. We enjoy the privilege of bearing his name and being his Witnesses. God promises us that he is on our side. (Ps. 118:7) May all of us, whether young or old, show our appreciation by living our life in a way that manifests a keen desire to give Jehovah the glory forever. Rom. 11:33-36; Ps. 33:12. *** w12 6/1 p. 14 Your Soul Will... Bow Low Over Me *** Although he is exalted in power, Jehovah is willing to come down to our level, as it were, to help us when we are low. (Job 37:23; Psalm 113:5-7) Is that not a comforting thought? Second, Jehovah is merciful; he is ready to forgive repentant sinners and welcome them back into his favor. (Psalm 86:5) Those two qualities humility and mercy go hand in hand. *** w12 10/15 p. 6 They Offered Themselves Willingly In Brazil *** How happy Jehovah must be to observe an ever-growing number of young brothers and sisters all around the world who offer themselves willingly to preach the good news of his Kingdom in remote areas! (Ps. 110:3; Prov. 27:11) All such willing workers, in turn, experience Jehovah s rich blessing. Prov. 10:22.
*** w12 11/15 p. 17 par. 7 Cultivate the Spirit of a Lesser One *** David attributed any greatness he had in Israel to Jehovah s humility to God s condescending, or humbling himself, to pay attention to him. (Ps. 113:5-7) Is it any different with us? In the way of qualities, abilities, and privileges, what do any of us have that we did not receive from Jehovah? (1 Cor. 4:7) The person who conducts himself as a lesser one is great in that he becomes more valuable as a servant of Jehovah. (Luke 9:48, ftn.) *** w10 10/15 p. 19 par. 16 Do You Take the Lead in Honoring Fellow Believers? *** 16 You will agree that most people manage to show honor to their superiors, but these same people may treat those whom they consider to be their inferiors with little or no respect. However, Jehovah is not like that. He states: Those honoring me I shall honor. (1 Sam. 2:30; Ps. 113:5-7) Jehovah shows honor to all those who serve and honor him. He does not ignore the lowly ones. (Read Isaiah 57:15; 2 Chron. 16:9) Of course, we wish to imitate Jehovah. Thus, if we want to measure how we fare in showing genuine honor, we do well to ask ourselves, How do I treat those who have no prominent, or responsible, position in the congregation? (John 13:14, 15) The answer to that question reveals much about the degree of heartfelt respect we have for others. Read Philippians 2:3, 4. *** w05 10/15 p. 27 pars. 4-5 Cultivate Genuine Humility *** 4 No one else in the universe has humbled himself to the same extent as the Sovereign Lord in order to help sinful humans. The psalmist could write: Jehovah has become high above all the nations; his glory is above the heavens. Who is like Jehovah our God, him who is making his dwelling on high? He is condescending to look on heaven and earth, raising up the lowly one from the very dust; he exalts the poor one from the ashpit itself. Psalm 113:4-7. 5 Note the word condescending. When referring to humans, that word can have a bad connotation, to assume an air of superiority to one inferior or less fortunate. Such a haughty attitude could never describe Jehovah God, who is pure and holy and thus devoid of haughtiness. (Mark 7:22, 23) But condescend can also carry the sense of coming down to the level of one socially lower or descending from one s rank or dignity in dealings with an inferior. Thus, some Bibles render Psalm 113:6 as saying that God humbles himself. How well that conveys the image of our humble God giving loving attention to the needs of his imperfect human worshippers! 2 Samuel 22:36.
What points from this week s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry? *** w14 9/1 pp. 4-5 Will Man Ruin the Earth Beyond Repair? *** On the other hand, the Bible assures us that God, the Creator, will not allow man to bankrupt the planet environmentally. At Psalm 115:16, we read: The earth [God] has given to the sons of men. Yes, our planet is a good gift from our heavenly Father. (James 1:17) Would we expect God s gift to be temporary in nature, as though it came with an expiration date? Of course not! That is evident from the inherent design of our planet. *** w12 3/15 p. 16 par. 6 Maintain Your Sense of Urgency *** Kingdom. 6 But there are other ways that people have their ears tickled. Some who still go to church like to have teachers who tell them, No matter what you do, God loves you. Priests and pastors tickle the ears of others by convincing them that ceremonies, Masses, fiestas, and images have God s blessing. Little do these churchgoers realize the danger of their situation. (Ps. 115:4-8) Yet, if we can awaken them spiritually so that they understand the Bible s true message, they can benefit from God s *** w11 2/15 p. 15 par. 10 Gaining God s Approval Leads to Everlasting Life *** 10 King David of ancient Israel sang to Jehovah: Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In the splendors of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, you have your company of young men just like dewdrops. (Ps. 110:3) Many people today live for financial security and leisure. For those who love Jehovah, however, their sacred service comes before everything else. The zeal with which they preach the good news proves where their priorities lie. They have full confidence in Jehovah s ability to supply their daily needs. Matt. 6:33, 34. *** w11 4/1 p. 16 What Is God s Purpose for the Earth? *** 1. What is God s purpose for the earth? The earth is man s home. After creating angels to live in heaven, God made man to enjoy the earth. (Job 38:4, 7) Thus, Jehovah settled the first man in a delightful paradise called Eden and gave him and his future offspring the prospect of enjoying endless life on earth. Genesis 2:15-17; read Psalm 115:16.
*** w11 6/1 p. 17 Is There Hope for the Dead? *** 3. Can we speak with the dead? The dead cannot speak. (Psalm 115:17) But when wicked angels speak to people, they may deceptively claim to be the spirit of a dead person. (2 Peter 2:4) Jehovah forbids attempting to speak with the dead. Read Deuteronomy 18:10, 11. *** w11 7/1 p. 6 Why Does Life Seem Meaningless? *** 1. God s purpose is for the earth to be a permanent home for humankind, not a temporary testing ground to see who deserve to live with him in heaven. If Adam and Eve had obeyed God s laws, they would still be alive here on a paradise earth. Genesis 1:27, 28; Psalm 115:16. *** w11 7/15 p. 14 par. 15 Will You Follow Jehovah s Loving Guidance? *** Idolaters make the mistake of thinking that physical objects gods made of wood or stone are somehow more real, more reliable, than the invisible God, Jehovah, who created all things. But as the apostle Paul noted, idols are nothing. (1 Cor. 8:4) They cannot see, hear, speak, or act. You might be able to see them and touch them, but if you were to worship one, you would, indeed, be pursuing an unreality an empty illusion that would bring only disaster. Ps. 115:4-8. *** w10 1/1 p. 26 He Was Loyal in the Face of Tests *** This Christ was the one called in ancient prophecy a stone that the builders would reject. (Psalm 118:22; Luke 20:17) With such prophecies in mind, Jesus revealed that Jehovah would establish a congregation on the very stone, or rock-mass, that Peter had just identified. Then he bestowed on Peter some very important privileges in that congregation. He did not give Peter primacy over the other apostles, as some have assumed, but he gave him responsibilities. He gave Peter the keys of the kingdom. (Matthew 16:19) It would be Peter s job to open the hope of entering God s Kingdom to three different fields of mankind first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, and finally to the Gentiles, or non-jews. *** w10 10/1 p. 4 2 To Whom? *** The Bible teaches that a great many prayers are, in fact, misdirected. Back when the Bible was written, it was common for people to direct their prayers to carved images. Yet, God repeatedly warned against that practice. For example, Psalm 115:4-6 says about idols: Ears they have, but they cannot hear. The point is clear. Why pray to a god who will never hear you? *** w09 3/15 p. 9 You Must Not Forget Jehovah *** A godly man once asked: What shall I repay to Jehovah for all his benefits to me? (Ps. 116:12) So large is our debt to God for his material blessings, his spiritual guidance, and his means of future salvation that eternity will not be long enough for us to repay him. Actually, we can never repay Jehovah. But gratitude is within the reach of us all.
*** w08 8/1 p. 31 Will the Earth Survive? *** Third, God has entrusted man with the care of this earth. As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men, says God s Word. (Psalm 115:16) Can you imagine a loving father giving a beautiful gift to his child and then turning around and destroying it? Of course not! Likewise, neither will Jehovah do any such thing to the earth and its inhabitants, for God is love. 1 John 4:8. *** w06 9/1 p. 14 pars. 8-10 Highlights From Book Five of Psalms *** 109:30, 31; 110:5. The sword-wielding right hand of a soldier normally lacks the protection of the shield, which was held on the left. Metaphorically, Jehovah is at the right hand of his servants, to fight for them. Thus he gives them protection and help a fine reason for us to laud [him] very much! 113:4-9. Jehovah is so high that he has to condescend even to look on heaven. Yet, he is compassionate to the lowly one, the poor one, and the barren woman. The Sovereign Lord Jehovah is humble and wants his worshippers to be that way too. James 4:6. 114:3-7. Learning about the wonderful works that Jehovah performed in behalf of his people at the Red Sea, at the Jordan River, and at Mount Sinai ought to affect us deeply. Mankind, represented by earth, should be in awe figuratively in severe pains because of the Lord. *** w06 11/1 p. 29 par. 7 Showing Respect for Our Sacred Gatherings *** Hence, we should make it a point to be in our seats before the chairman introduces the song and then to concentrate on the meaning of the words while singing. May our singing reflect the feelings of the psalmist who wrote: I shall laud Jehovah with all my heart in the intimate group of upright ones and the assembly. (Psalm 111:1) Yes, singing praises to Jehovah is one very good reason to arrive early at our meetings and to stay until the end.